Pioneer does come with many sound enhancing features, which I always turn off, except just to play with on occasion. I prefer the sound out of the pioneer, so in a case like this, it's like preaching to the choir. I got a lot more bass out of the Pioneer.

Yeah, I just listened to a live concert recording on YouTube that I've listened to numerous times with my 3801, and it REALLY sounds different; I don't like it as much. I said crisp earlier, but it's quite tinny (similar to what Audyssey does to my Axioms). The playback is also severely lacking bass.

I'm assuming the processing is on by default and thus the causation? I haven't touched the menu...

Cat, do you (or anyone else) know how Pioneer gauges it's volume? I have it set to -12, as I did with my 3801, but the output is much lower. -12 was the same loudness on my 3801 and 3808. It was really my threshold for both (the 3801 was connected to my computer, so I set the receiver to -12 and adjusted the volume on my computer), but as aforementioned, the Pio's output isn't even close at the same volume rating.

Not sure. Reading up on it says better sound with multiple speakers. Just try it on, them off, to see which you prefer.

Seems odd your not getting much power at -12. I get about the same decimal level with both Pioneer and Denon.

Edit: check to see if any dynamic volume control is on. That would do it.

Good idea. I'll test the phase control once it's hooked up where it belongs.

I went into the receiver menu and changed to default speaker settings. It was set to fronts and surrounds "on", as well as "yes" for a subwoofer (which I don't have in my bedroom). It now sounds MUCH better after amending accordingly.